International architects propose closing Riga's Daugava Embankment to traffic
International architects^apostrofs; proposals for the development of the Daugava Embankment in Riga include closing the Daugava Embankment for traffic and transforming the Akmens (Stone) Bridge into a pedestrian mall that would include stores, cafes and libraries, Dana Hasana, head of the public relations office of the Riga City Council^apostrofs;s City Development Department, told LETA.
International architects' proposals for the development of the Daugava Embankment in Riga include closing the Daugava Embankment for traffic and transforming the Akmens (Stone) Bridge into a pedestrian mall that would include stores, cafes and libraries, Dana Hasana, head of the public relations office of the Riga City Council's City Development Department, told LETA.
The city council has selected five best Daugava Embankment development projects submitted by international architects, the projects deal with the development of the Daugava Embankment from its intersection with Hanzas Street to the intersection with Turgeneva Street.
Awarded were Finnish and Danish architects who had submitted the best projects, French and Italian architects' teams were the runners-up, and German architecture students ended up third.
The Danish architects propose shunting traffic from the Daugava Embankment by constructing a groove in the Daugava Embankment's side that would be used by traffic. The Finnish architects propose development of a new beltway to ease the problem of heavy traffic in downtown Riga, and new parks in the area.
Projects submitted by French and Italian architects were praised for innovation - the French architects proposed developing downtown Riga into a recreation zone, whereas the Italian team offered to close traffic on the Akmens Bridge and transform the bridge into a pedestrian mall. The German team proposed developing the embankment into a three-level complex.
The City Development Department's director Vilnis Strams said, in commenting on the architects' projects, that the first step to ease traffic congestion in downtown Riga would be closing traffic on the embankment on some specific days in summer, the embankment later perhaps become a pedestrian mall.
The Danish architects' proposal to construct a groove in the Daugava Embankment's side for traffic is original and worth city authorities' attention, Strams said.
Most projects submitted by architects stipulate that Zemgale Bridge should be constructed for easing traffic in downtown Riga, while Akmens Bridge should become a pedestrian mall, only open to public transportation vehicles.
The materials will be made public at the Town Hall later this week. Overall, thirteen architect teams participated in the international competition, including four from Latvia, also from France, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Germany. The jury included French, Italian, German and Latvian representatives.
The city council has selected five best Daugava Embankment development projects submitted by international architects, the projects deal with the development of the Daugava Embankment from its intersection with Hanzas Street to the intersection with Turgeneva Street.
Awarded were Finnish and Danish architects who had submitted the best projects, French and Italian architects' teams were the runners-up, and German architecture students ended up third.
The Danish architects propose shunting traffic from the Daugava Embankment by constructing a groove in the Daugava Embankment's side that would be used by traffic. The Finnish architects propose development of a new beltway to ease the problem of heavy traffic in downtown Riga, and new parks in the area.
Projects submitted by French and Italian architects were praised for innovation - the French architects proposed developing downtown Riga into a recreation zone, whereas the Italian team offered to close traffic on the Akmens Bridge and transform the bridge into a pedestrian mall. The German team proposed developing the embankment into a three-level complex.
The City Development Department's director Vilnis Strams said, in commenting on the architects' projects, that the first step to ease traffic congestion in downtown Riga would be closing traffic on the embankment on some specific days in summer, the embankment later perhaps become a pedestrian mall.
The Danish architects' proposal to construct a groove in the Daugava Embankment's side for traffic is original and worth city authorities' attention, Strams said.
Most projects submitted by architects stipulate that Zemgale Bridge should be constructed for easing traffic in downtown Riga, while Akmens Bridge should become a pedestrian mall, only open to public transportation vehicles.
The materials will be made public at the Town Hall later this week. Overall, thirteen architect teams participated in the international competition, including four from Latvia, also from France, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Germany. The jury included French, Italian, German and Latvian representatives.
